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How To: Listening to Your iTunes Music Collection on Your Android Phone While Motorcycling

Mike ConnellyConnected Home, Motorcycles, Music

Streaming music over back-country roads is impractical when cell service is unreliable. This article explains how to move an iTunes library onto an Android phone’s SD card for fully offline playback while motorcycling, covering the Google Play import option and a more reliable SCP-based transfer method. Continue reading How To: Listening to Your iTunes Music Collection on Your Android Phone While Motorcycling

How To: Using a Smartphone for a Better Navigation System for Motorcycles

Mike ConnellyConnected Home, Motorcycles

Dedicated motorcycle GPS units cost roughly twice what a capable waterproof Android phone does, yet deliver a fraction of the performance. This article covers a complete motorcycle navigation build using a budget Android phone, including custom mounting, BMW power wiring, and a head-to-head comparison of navigation apps. The performance gap between the two setups is wider than the price gap. Continue reading How To: Using a Smartphone for a Better Navigation System for Motorcycles

Google Chromecast Audio with Multi-room Support Review

Mike ConnellyConnected Home

Google’s multi-room audio distribution technology is based on the success of their video casting platform, Chromecast. This article examines how it compares to the AirPort Express, focussing on signal stability, multiroom grouping, and support for both optical and analog output. The upgrade from older wireless standards enables a measurably more reliable connection under real listening conditions.
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Nvidia Shield Android TV Review

Mike ConnellyConnected Home

The Nvidia Shield Android TV, released in May 2015, holds the title of the best Android TV set-top box and outperforms the Apple TV Gen 4, Amazon Fire TV 2, and the latest Roku in raw processing power. This article examines how the Shield stacks up against its main competitors across ecosystems, content libraries, and gaming performance. The Shield’s hardware advantage does not translate into a clear win for every buyer, and the case of who should actually purchase it hinges on a single practical distinction.
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